Two-piece self-locking carrying box



May 9, 1961 R. M. BERGSTEIN TWO-PIECE SELF-LOCKING CARRYING BOX 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 27, 1957 IN VEN TOR. fiasezr M 354657-51,

RTTORNEY$ May 9, 1961 R. M BERGSTEIN TWO-PIECE SELF-LOCKING CARRYING BOX2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 27, 1957 INVENTOR.

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United States Patent Robert M. Bergstein, Wyoming, Ohio, assignor toBergstein Packaging Trust Filed Dec. 21, 1957, Ser. No. 705,675

. 2 Claims. (01. 229-45 This invention relates to boxes and moreparticularly to a two-piece box comprising bottom and cover partsadapted to fit together in telescoping relationship.

Specifically, the invention relates to shoe boxes although it will beevident that the utility of the boxes is not so, limited and thestructures disclosed may be used for many purposes. r

In the shoe box field there has been an increasing demand for a boxwhich would serve the dual function of being a good factory-to-storeboxand at the same .time could be converted inthe store to a carry-homebox for use by the customer. The conventional factory-tostore box iseither a two-piece setup type box or a glued overlap type of foldingbox. In both types the cover telescopes over the body or bottom part andis readily removable. Since the boxes are intended to be stacked oneupon the other in rows, they are free from external projections and thelike, such as carrying handles and cover fastening means. To be used forcarry-home purposes, the boxes require supplementary wrapping or tying,or both. Rather than, wrapping or otherwise tying the factory box forcarry-home purposes, some stores follow the practice of removing theshoes from the factory box when they are sold and putting them in aspecial carryhome carton. This, of course, requires additional handlingof the shoes and the added expense of the carry-home carton. I

With this background in mind, it is a principal object of the instantinvention to provide a box structure which can be used by the shoemanufacturer as a factory-to store box and by the retailer as acarry-home package.

A principal object of my invention is the provision of a two-piece boxstructure in which the box bottom is provided at each end with one ormore locking tongues capable of being engaged with the cover part tosecure it in closed position, the arrangement of parts being such that.the locking tongues lie wholly inside the closedbox and do not disruptthe smooth exterior surfaces of the box to obstruct stacking.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a I box of thecharacter described wherein the locking tongues may be used or not usedas desired, the tongues when in use serving tdautomatically engage andretain the cover part in closed position until positive force is appliedto release them, and the tongues when not in use permitting the cover tobe readily removed as if the tongues were not present.

Still a further object of my invention is the provision of a two-piecebox of the end overlap type wherein the locking parts for securing thecover in place are formed as integral parts of the structure utilizing aminimum amount of board and requiring no special handling, the erectionof the end overlap structure in the conventional fashion serving toerect and position the locking parts.

Yet another obect of my invention is the provision of a carry-home boxof the character described which, in

a may be of reduced width equal to, say approximatelyaddition to havinga self locking cover, is provided with w Ice Patented May 9, 1951 2integral carrying handles which may be used or not used as desired.

The foregoing together with other objects of my invention which willappear hereinafter or which will be apparent to the skilled worker inthe art upon reading these specifications, I accomplish by thoseconstructions and arrangements of parts of which I shall now describe.certain exemplary embodiments.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a box blank in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of a cover blank for the box of Figure l.

Figure 1 in substantially. assembled condition.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along theline 4-4 of Figure3.

Figure 5 is a perspective view with parts broken away showing the coverblank of Figure 2 in asembled condition.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional viewtaken along the line 66 inFigure 5.

Figure'7 is a vertical sectional view, parts broken away, illustratingthe manner in'which the cover and bottom parts lock together. 7 I

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the assembled box in carryingposition. z

Figure 9 is a plan'view of a blank for an alternative form of box.

Figure 10 is a perspective view illustrating the blank of Figure 9 inpartially assembled condition.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating one end of'thebox of Figure 10 with the locking tongue folded to locking position.

Referring first to Figure ,l of the drawingsathe blank thereinillustrated is formed from boxboard or paper-,'

board suitably cut and scored to provide a bottom panel 1 having sidewall panels 2 and 3 articulated to the 0P7. posite side edges thereof,and end wall panels 4 and 5 articulated to the remaining edges ofbottompanel- Attachment flaps 6, 7, 8 and 9 are hingedly connected to the endsof the side wall panels 2 and 3, and end over-; lap flaps 10 and 11 arehingedly connected to the ends.-

inner, side wall panel 12 will be of a width substantially equal to sidewall panel 2 and will have an extension 14.

hingedly connected to its outermost side edge. In order to effect asavingsin board, the inner side wall panel 13 one-half the width of theside wall panel.

In accordance with my invention, the attachment flaps 6, 7, 8 and 9 areprovided with tongues 15, 16,. 17 and- 18, respectively, and the endoverlap flaps 10 and 11 are.

provided with elongated openings 19 and 20 having a width substantiallyequal to the combined width of a pair of said tongues. Thus, the widthof the opening 19 is substantially equal to the combined width of thetongues 15 and 16 so that, as will become apparent hereinafter-,1

the. tongues may be projected upwardly through the opening.

The side wall" panel 2 is also cut and scored to pro-,--

vide a pair of oppositely directed handle elements 21 and 22 formedtherein, the base edges of the handle elements being; spaced apart sothat, upon the outward displace-:- ment of the handle elements from theplane of the side i wallpanel, the two handle elements will extend ingen-. erally parallel and spaced apart relation. Preferaby the: outeredges of the handles indicated at 21a and 22a, will, be along the topand bottom edges, respectively of side wall 2, thereby facilitatingtheir engagement by the user when it is desired to displace them tocarrying position. Referring now to Figure 2, the blank for the coverpart comprises a cover panel 23 having side panels 24 and 25, and endpanels 26 and 27. Attachment tabs 28, 29, 30, and 31 are connected tothe end edges of the side wall panels 24 and 25, and inner side panels32 and 33 are hingedly connected to the outer edges of the panels.Similarly, inner end panels 34 and 35 are hingedly connected to theouter edges of end panels 26 and 27; and the inner end panels haverecesses 36 and 37 therein which have a length corresponding to thecombined length of a pair of the tongues, such as the tongues 15 and 16of the bottom part.

The erection and assembly of both the bottom and cover parts may becarried out in conventional manner, the bottom being folded and securedin the manner illustrated in Figure 3, wherein it will be seen that theside wall panels 2 and 3 are erected relative to the bottom panel 1,with the attachment flaps folded inwardly in the manner illustrated,thereby bringing the tongues 15, 16 and 17, 18 into side by siderelationship. The end Wall panels 4 and S are then folded upwardly so asto contact the outer surfaces of the attachment flaps, and the endoverlapped flaps 10 and 11 folded inwardly and downwardly over the upperedges of the attachment flaps. In this connection, the openings 19 and20 will be in alignment with the pairs of tongues 15, 16 and 17, 18 andthe tongues will project upwardly through the openings. In accordancewith customary practice, the end overlap flaps may be secured to theinner surfaces of the attachment flaps, either by adhesive, staples orthe like, or, if desired, 'the end wall panels may be secured directlyto the attachment flaps. The extensions 12 and '13 will be infolded tolie along the inner surfaces of the walls to which they are connected.Preferably, the relatively narrow extension 13 will be secured to sidewall 3, whereas the full depth extension 12 need not be secured, beingheld in place by means of extension 14. Of course, it too may be securedif desired.

Figure shows the assembly of the cover part, which involves theinfolding and securing of the inner side panels 32 and 33 to the sidepanels to which they are secured, the erection of the side panelsrelative to the cover panel, the infolding of the atachment tabs, andthe erection of the end panels and the infolding of the inner end panels34 and 35. As will be clear from Figures 5 and 6, the attachment tabs,such as the tabs 30 and 31, space the inner side panel 35 inwardly withrespect to the end panel 27, and this space together with the recess 37in the inner side panel define a tongue receiving pocket 38 (Figure 6).

Figure 7 illustrates the manner in which the cover is fitted onto thebox bottom. Where the locking tongues are to be engaged with the cover,the tongues are folded outwardly, as illustrated in the right handportion of Figure 7, whereupon the cover is caused to telescope over theupper edges of the bottom part, thereby causing the outwardly foldedtongues to be folded against the end walls of the box. The height of thetongues is such that, when the cover is in fully closed position, thetongues 15, 16 and 17, 18' will just clear the edges of the recesses 36and 37 and hence will enter into the pockets 38. When so engaged, itwill be apparent that the tongues will hold the cover in closedposition. Of course, the cover may be removed by applying positive forcewhich will cause the tongues to be reversely folded and hence removedfrom the pockets. Where it is desired to place the cover part on the boxbottom without engaging the cover locking tongues, the tongues may befolded to the inside, as indicated in dotted lines in the right handportion of Figure 7, whereupon the cover part may be placed on thebottom without the locking action taking place. For example, when theshoe manufacturer initially fills the box for shipment to the retailshoe store,

i the locking tongues may be folded inwardly so that the box may bereadily opened by the salesman when the shoes are being fitted. Once thepurchase has been made, the shoes may be replaced in the box and thetongues turned outwardly, thereby locking the cover in closed position.The clerk may also erect the handles 21 and 22, as illustrated in Figure8. In connection with the handles, it will be noted that when they areerected, the openings in the side Wall 2 will be closed by the innerside wall panel 12 which, if desired, may be printed or otherwisecolored in conformity with the surfaces of V the box.

Figure 9 illustrates an alternative form of the invention wherein thetongues 15, 16, 17 and 18' are eliminated in favor of tongue members 39and 40 which are formed in the end overlap flaps 10 and '11.Essentially, instead of dieing out the openings 19 and 20, the openingsare defined by lines of cut 41 and 42 which terminate at the lines ofarticulation connecting the end overlap'flaps 10 and 11 to the end wallsof the box,.thereby defining the elongated tongue members.

The embodiment just described effects a savings in both timeandmaterial'in that the elimination of the tongues 15-18 permits moreeffective nesting of the blanks, and at the same time the board in theopenings 19 and 20 need not be scrapped-out.

The erection of the blank of Figure 9 is similar to the erection of theblank Figure 1 excepting that the infolding of the end overlap flaps 10and 11 automatically causes the tongue members 39 and 40 to projectupwardly inthe manner best seen in Figure 10. The tongue members maythen be folded outwardly, as illustrated in Figure 11, for lockingengagement with the cover part, or they may be folded inwardly where thecover is to be placed on the box bottom in non-locking condition. Wherethe tongue members are outfolded, they will engage within the pockets 38in the cover to hold the-cover part against accidental displacement.

With either of the forms of the invention herein before described, theflat blanks may be shipped to their point of assembly with the innerside wall panels 13 and 14 of the bottom part and inner side panels 32and 33 of the cover part pre-glued. In the hands of the assembler, i.e.the shoe manufacturer, the blanks may be conveniently set up andassembled by erecting the wall panels, infolding the attachment flaps ortabs, and folding or securing the end overlap parts. When the shoemanufacturer packs the boxes with shoes, the tongues will be infolded,is. folded to non-locking position so that the cover part may be readilyremoved by the retailer when displaying the shoes; and yet by foldingthe tongues outwardly, they may be readily positionedto secure the coverin place for carry-home.

Modifications may be made in my invention without departing from thespirit of it. the size and shape of the tongue members may be varied asdesired; and similarly, the size and shape of the re cesses B6 and 37 inthe cover will be varied accordingly so as, to accommodate the tonguesin the pockets 38.

Having, however, described my invention in certain exemplaryembodiments, what I desire to secure and protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a two-piece self-locking box, a bottom part and a cover part, saidbottom part comprising. a bottom Wall, side and end Walls hingedlyconnectedto said bottom wall, attachment flap connected to the ends ofsaid side walls,

said side and end walls being erected with respect to said 7 bottom Wallwith said attachment flaps juxtaposed to the inner surfaces of said endwalls, end overlap flaps hingedly connected to the upper ends of saidend walls and folded inwardly and secured to said attachment flaps, anelongated opening in each of said end overlap flaps extending lengthwisethereof with-a side edge of each such slot coincidingwith the uppermostedge of the adjoining end wall, a pair of locking tongues projectingupwardly It will be evident that.

through each of said openings, said pairs of locking tongues beingformed as integral extensions of said attachment flaps, said tonguesbeing hingedly connected to said attachment flaps along :linescoinciding with the upper edges of said end walls so as to beselectively foldable inwardly and outwardly; said cover part comprisinga cover panel, side and end wall panels hingedly connected to said coverpanel, attachment tabs hingedly connected to the ends of saidsidepanels, said side and end panels being erected with respect to saidcover panel with said end panels juxtaposed to outer surfaces of saidattachment tabs, inner end panels hingedly connected to said end panelsand folded inwardly to overlie said attachment tabs, said inner endpanels being secured to said attachment tabs, said attachment tabs ateach end of said cover part terminating short of each other so as todefine an opening therebetween, said last named openings and theintermediate portions of said inner side panels defining pockets of asize to receive sa'd pairs of tongues when said tongues are foldedoutwardly relative to said box bottom part and said cover is fitted oversaid bottom part.

2. The box structure claimed in claim 1 including a pair of handleelements struck from one of the side walls of said bottom part, saidhandles being oppositely directed and having their base edges lying inspaced apart relationship, an inner side wall panel connected to theside wall from which said handle elements are struck, said inner sidewall panel being of full depth so as to underlie and cover the openingsformed in the said side wall when said handle elements are displacedrelative thereto.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,284,959 Guyer et a1. June 2, 1942 2,545,802 Bergstein Mar. 20, 19512,706,595 Fallert Apr. 19, 1955 2,741,418 Van Rosen Apr. 10, 19562,745,589 Daly et a1 May 15, 1956 2,771,236 Clafi et al. Nov. 20, 1956

